SITE GUIDE
SEARCH
REVIEWS
REVIEW ARCHIVES
ADVERTISING AT CURTAINUP
FEATURES
NEWS
Etcetera and
Short Term Listings
LISTINGS
Broadway
Off-Broadway
NYC Restaurants
BOOKS and CDs
OTHER PLACES
Berkshires
London
California
New Jersey
DC
Philadelphia
Elsewhere
QUOTES
TKTS
PLAYWRIGHTS' ALBUMS
LETTERS TO EDITOR
FILM
LINKS
MISCELLANEOUS
Free Updates
Masthead
A CurtainUp Review
Perfect Harmony
Perfect Harmony Still Tuneful
Directed by Andrew Grosso and written in collaboration with previous cast members (collectively known as the Essentials), the show embodies the cut-throat world of high school a cappella competition. The play began its life at the New York International Fringe Festival in 2006, and as part of its subsequent migrations in New York and beyond have fine-tuned its pitch and tightened up its syncopation. (see Paulanne Simmons's 2008 review below) The scenario concerns the rivalry between the seventeen-time national champions, the "Acafellas" and the less successful "Ladies in Red." The bar has been raised in this year's competition: the Nationals won't just be a contest between the top high school a cappella choirs, but a live televised event on MTV3, watched by over a million people. While most plays written by committee suffer from loose ends or a diluted vision, this play has somehow maintained its integrity during its four-year artistic journey. There are so many scenes that sparkle with exuberance. What I remember in ascending order of vivedness is (1) Simone's (David Barlow) hilarious "Acafellas" audition with "Sweet Low, Sweet Chariot" (2) Valerie's (Faryl Amadeus) recounting of her major mental breakdown at last year's Nationals, when she hid in the janitor's closet (3) Melody (Dana Acheson), the Pitchpipe or President of "Ladies in Red", who sporadically proves her mettle by barking at the oversexed Meghan Beans (Kelly McCreary) for dancing too suggestively. The show has a touch of gospel songs, fake Holy Scripture ("She had it coming to her!"), Old School traditions, and 80s classic hits (The Temptations' "Get Ready". . .Sam Cooke's "Chain Gang") as its grace notes. Also included is an expedition to high school competition's dark side which addresses some hot-button issues like performance-enhancing drugs, one's image and marketability, and that bugaboo called stage fright. In short, this is not a fluffy sentimental story populated by air-head teens and embellished with catchy songs and choreographed routines. You get credible adolescents with their growing pains as well as a cadre of minor characters like The School Psychologist (Clayton Apgar), a Talent Manager nicknamed Kiki Tune (Kate Morgan Chadwick), and a so-called World Famous Vocal Therapist (Marie-Francis Arcilla), who materialize during the proceedings for the greater, or lesser, good of the singers. The current production benefits from an excellent cast. A few actors, notably Dana Acheson and Clayton Apgar, are veterans of the 2008 run and both return in fine performances as Melody and Jasper, respectively. The rest of the ensemble also knows how to make their acting and singing come together beat by beat. Nick Francone's set design is appropriately sparse, suggesting the austere atmosphere of a New England prep school. And Becky Lasky's costumes include gender-specific high school uniforms and some fancier clothes for a cappella competitions and the members of the greater community. The present production seems to possess all the flavor of its former run on Theater Row in 2008, with some fresh faces and voices to add much zest. Its ending might be a bit corny, but taken as a whole, Perfect Harmony rings true. Or as the character Lassiter simply puts it: "It's about the joy of being in the sound." For more details about plot and characters, check out Paulanne Simmons' 2008 review below. ( the 2008 Review ) Current Production Notes Perfect Harmony Co-written by Andrew Grosso and the Essentials Directed by Andrew Grosso Cast: Dana Acheson (Melody McDaniels), Faryl Amadeus (Valerie Smooter), Clayton Apgar (Jasper Mergh/Dr. Larry Mergh), Marie-France Arcilla (Kerri Taylor/Tobi McClintoch), David Barlow (Simon Depardieu/Goran Dhiardeaubovic), Kate Morgan Chadwick (Michaela ";Micky D" Dhiardeaubovic/Kiki Tune), Jarid Faubel (JB Smooter/Jesus), Kobi Libii (Philip Fellowes V), Kelly McCreary (Meghan Beans) Robbie Collier Sublett (Lassiter A. Jayson III). Sets: Nick Francone Costumes:Becky Lasky Lighting: Brian M. Jones Musical directors: Ray Bailey and Adam Wachter. Stage Manager: William E. Cruttenden III Acorn Theatre at Theater Row, 410 West 42nd Street. Tickets: $49.50-$59.50; Phone 212/239-6200 or visit www.telecharge.com From 10/21/10; opening 10/27/10l closing 11/13/10 Tuesday @ 7pm; Wednesday through Saturday @ 8pm; with matinees on Saturday @ 2pm and Sunday @ 3pm. Running time: 1 hour, 40 minutes, without intermission Reviewed by Deirdre Donovan based on October 24th press performance Current Production Notes REVIEW FEEDBACK Highlight one of the responses below and click "copy" or"CTRL+C"
Paste the highlighted text into the subject line (CTRL+ V): Feel free to add detailed comments in the body of the email . . . also the names and emails of any friends to whom you'd like us to forward a copy of this review. |
| . . .society looks at a bunch of boys singing and automatically thinks, that's so cute and endearing, but society sees a group of girls singing the same song and wonders where are their boyfriends? What do they have against instruments? What's their agenda?—Valerie
|
The show, written and directed by Andrew Grosso and developed with the current and previous casts, mixes camp, sentimentality and sincerity in a surprisingly effective manner, leaving this reviewer happily puzzled about why she enjoyed the production so very much. Let's call it a thumbs-up with a big smile and a shrug.
Perfect Harmony is about two competing vocal groups, the all-male Acafellas, intent on maintaining its long winning streak; and The Ladies in Red, a girl group trying to break its series of losses. What makes the show so wacky is the various characters who comprise both groups.
The pitchpipe, or leader, of the Acafellas is Lassiter A Jayson III (Vayu O'Donnell), who gives us the essentials of his character in one of his opening monologues: "My father was one of the Acafellas and my grandfather was one of the Acafounders. My father and grandfather were both pitchpipes. And now I have been too. And when I have a son, I hope he will have been too as well someday." Lassiter wants to bring artistic integrity to the group.
Philip Fellowes V (Benjamin Huber) is the son of Philip Fellowes the IV. He actually would have been Philip Fellowes the V if he had not had a falling out with his own father (a co-founder of the Acafellas), resulting in his eliminating his father from the line and taking his place.
The father-son falling out was caused by Philip's father discovering the "close"relationship between Philip's grandfather and Lassiter's grandfather. As a result of this past conflict, Philip V has sworn never to speak to Lassiter III, and they communicate through whichever member of the band is most handy at the moment. Philip has two goals: to win the nationals and to bring back the group's original name, Acafellows. Jasper (Clayton Apgar) is mute, except when he is singing; and JB Smooter is a former football player with a foul mouth and a great body. Simone Depardieu (Sean Dugan), the newest group member, whose painful and hilarious audition the audience witnesses, suffers from canker sores and TMJ. He wears a retainer, takes Valium and is soothed by his mother's backrubs.
Melody McDaniels (Dana Acheson), the leader of The Ladies in Red, is a minor dictator who brooks no discussion and no disagreement. She camouflages her ruthlessness in sweet words and small acts of kindness.
Valerie Smooter (Margie Stokley), JB's sister, has perfect pitch but cannot bear the thought that people are watching her. She has just recovered from a major breakdown.
Meghan Beans (Amy Rutberg) is an oversexed religious fanatic, who wants to be the center of attention and, in a side-splitting scene, tries to comfort Valerie with the knowledge that God is always watching her.
Michaela Dhiardeaubovic, (Kathy Searle) also known as Mickey D, sang in her brother's band in their native Herzegovina. She came to America with her brother after her parents "get, how you say, eaten by tractor?" She has two problems: figuring out what's going on and remembering lyrics. Kerri Taylor (Nisi Sturgis), the group manger, has a condition that sounds a lot like Tourette's but is described by her mother as having a mind that "just decides to, you know, take a look around. Fuck you in the skull."
Inter-group rivalries threaten to destroy both the Acafellas and The Ladies in Red. The Acafellas are split by a positive drug test (estrogen in their combined urine). Romance blooms. Friendship is abandoned and rediscovered. All of which is punctuated by the harmonious singing of the two groups.
Stadium risers, a few projections and Becky Lasky's age and character inflected clothing are all that are necessary to support this dynamic cast (many of whom also double as minor characters: the school psychologist, a talent executive, etc.).
Perfect Harmony is young, exuberant, over-the-top, and at times, unexpectedly moving. There's a lesson here about friendship and the relative importance of winning. But it's delivered with such a light hand it feels more like a caress than a spanking.
|
PERFECT HARMONY Written and directed by Andrew Grosso Cast: Vayu O'Donnell (Lassiter A. Jayson III), Benjamin Huber (Philip Fellowes V), Clayton Apgar (Jasper, Dr. Larry Mergh), Scott Janes (JB Smooter), Sean Dugan (Simone Depardieu, Goran Dhiardeaubovic, Announcer at Nationals), Dana Acheson (Melody McDaniels), Kathy Searle (Michaela "Mickey D" Dhiardeaubovic, Kiki Tune), Margie Stokley (Valerie Smooter), Amy Rutberg (Meghan Beans), Nisi Sturgis (Kerri Taylor, Tobi McClintoch) Music Director: Ray Bailey Set Designer: Eliza Brown Costume Designer: Becky Lasky Lighting Designer: Brian Jones Running Time: 1 hour, 45 minutes, no intermission Clurman Theatre, 410 West 42nd Street between 9th and 10th avenues)212 279-4200 From 7/6/08; opening 7/10/08, closing 7/24/08—extended to 8/09/08 Monday & Tuesday at 7pm, Wednesday - Saturday at 8pm Tickets: $18 Reviewed by Paulanne Simmons July 11th |
Wicked
Jersey Boys
The Little Mermaid
Lion King
Shrek The Musical
South Pacific
In the Heights
Playbill 2007-08 Yearbook
Leonard Maltin's 2008 Movie Guide
